Self-tipping conveyer bucket



Oct. 26, 19 4 8. JOHNSON I 2,452,243

SELF-TIPPING CONVEYER BUCKET Filed Oct. 6, 1945 v a Shee ts-Sheet 1' 06,26 4 s. JOHNSON SELF-TIPPING convEmn BUCKET- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 6, 1945 Patented Oct. 26, 1948 SELF-TIPPING CONVEYER BUCKET George H. Johnson, Rockford, Ill., ass'ignor to The Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford,

111., a copartnership Application October 6, 1945, Serial No. 620,784

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved self-tipping conveyor bucket.

While the present invention has been designed primarily for use in machine shops and other industrial plants for handling scrap material and the like, it will soon appear that it has many other possible applications, wherever similar disposal problems are presented. with scrap or any other material capable of being handled in a similar way.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a self-tipping and self-righting bucket, which has aligned trunnions on opposite sides in the vertical plane through the center of gravity of the bucket, slightly above the center of gravity, so that the bucket when dumped will be selfrighting but when filled will be unbalanced and,

by a pull on the rope I! attached to the latch bolt operating arm I8 and extending down to the floor to permit dumping the bucket by remote control. The trunnions I3 are located in the middle vertical plane of the bucket on the horizontal center line a/b parallel to the bottom I9. This trunnion axis is below the center of the bucket but, due to the fact that the bottom I9 is extra heavy and accordingly lowers the center of gravity oi the bucket, is nevertheless a short distance above the center of gravity of the bucket. Thus, when the empty bucket is pivotally supported on the yoke II it will naturally assume an upright posihence, will be self-t1pping when released for.

dumping of the contents.

Another important object is to provide a simple and practical carrier yoke to hook onto the trunnions on the bucket, and lock the bucket to the yoke for quick and easy release from 'a remote point without, however, giving rise to any danger of the latch bolt being accidentally released.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a self-tipping conveyor bucket, made in accordance with my invention, straddled by a carrier yoke that is also made in accordance with my invention, the yoke being shown disconnected from the trunnions on the bucket;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bucket and yoke in operation at the time of dumping;

Fig. 3 is a larger perspective view of one side of the carrier yoke, to better illustrate the latch and latch operating mechanism;

Figs. 4 and 5 are a front and a side view, respectively, of the latch operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch bolt removed from the latch mechanism, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a typical industrial plant lay-out for scrap disposal,-, in accordance with the novel method of my invention.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference numeral I0 designates the conveyor bucket, and II the carrier yoke, the two hooks I2 of which are arranged to be detachably connected to the opposed trunnions I3 on the bucket. The arms I4 on which the hooks I2 are provided are arranged to be releasably locked to the top frame I5 of the bucket by means of a latch bolt I6 to prevent tipping of the bucket while the same is being conveyed on a traveling crane, for example, the latch boltbeing releasable, as will soon appear,

tion. However, if the bucket is filled or partially filled with any material as, for example, the scrap metal indicated at 20 in Fig. 2, and lifted by means of the yoke II attached to the trunnions I3, it is quite top-heavy and will, therefore, tip over immediately unless the bucket is lockedto the arms I4 by means of the latch bolt I6. Hence, assuming the yoke II is attached to a crane hook 2| on. the end of a hoisting chain extending downwardly from a traveling crane and the bucket has been conveyed to a point over a truck or railroad car stationed to receive the scrap metal, the scrap metal can be dumped instantly into the truck or car by a pull on the rope I! to release the latch bolt I6, the bucket being shown in the act of dumping in Fig. 2. As soon as the load has been dumped, the bucket returns to its normal upright position, being bottom-heavy when empty and only top-heavy when filled, or partially filled. The bucket may, therefore, be locked again to the arms I4 of the yoke by means of the latch bolt I6 and returned in that way to the loading station.

Referring now to Fig. 7, I have shown two loading pits 22 and 23 in the floor 24 of an industrial plant, for example, the two pits being interconnee-ted at the middle of one side by a passage 25 and each of the pits having on the diametrically opposite side from the passage 2. vertical recess 26 to accommodate one side portion. of the yoke II, while the other side portion is accommodated in the passage 25, as, for example, when a bucket Ill is being lowered into one of the pits for reloading, or when the yoke is being lowered into the pit for connection to a bucket preliminary to the hoisting of the bucket out of the pit for emptying into a truck or railroad car. The pits 22 and 23 are both of a size and depth to accommodate the buckets freely with the top frames I5 approximately flush with the floor 24 for convenience in the dumping of scrap metal or whatever other material is to be handled by these buckets. The workmen convey the material to the buckets in the pits in wheelbarrows and dump the material directly into the buckets, T-lrons 21' are preferof the pits easily, should that ever be necessary,l to clean out any dirt or materialthat. may have been dropped in accidentally, andat "suchtimes the passage 25 is found to be a realconvenience,

for the workman to walk iror'n' one' pit-'intothe .7

other. A sheet metal cover plate 29 is usually laid over the passage 25 for sa fety, ,and it has. notches 30 on opposite sides through which the arms id of the yoke Ii may be passed "for con-- nection with the trunnions 13. A handle 3| is p o idedon one e o the pl ten to aci t t handling and preferably projects only-to a small extent-from the top oithe plate so, as not to constitute a hazard to workmen walking; around the pits. If desired, the handle 3!, maybe, of a hinged type and lie substantially:flushwith the top of the plate whennot in use.

It is, of course, highly important from the safety standpoint that the bucket id'- be securely locked in rigid relationto theyoke H when it is being hoisted and conveyedtethe dumping station. The latchbolt i is operatedin such a way that; there is no danger of its. being: accidentally released. The latch bolt is slidably guided atits outer end in an opening 32 provided in the outer wall of a housing 33 suitably securedbetween the flanges 3d of the yoke arm; Hi, and has its inner end portion suitably guided in an opening 35 pro.- vided in the Web portion 36 oithe channel-shaped arm 14. A cross-pin 3'! on the latchi'boltoperates in slots 38 provided in plates 39 that are slidably guided in the housing 33 on ,oppcsite sides otthe latch bolt. The plates 39 arepivotally connected at it to a link ll which in turn is. pivotallyconnected at E2 to'the end of the latch bol-t arm 18,

51; 'l-FIn a dump bucket structure comprising a carrier yoke and a bucket pivotally mounted in i'said yoke, means for releasably locking said bucketinrigid relation to said yoke comprising a 'la'tch bolt slidably mounted on the yoke in radially :s'paced.-.:relationto. the pivots, a keeper on the bucket-for engagement by said bolt, said bolt havaeg smprojection on the side thereof, a slide guided onthe yokeand movable in transverse relation'to said'bolt and having a slot receiving said pin -proj'ection to reciprocate said bolt by reciprocatory movementjoi said slide, a manually oscillatablelever pivoted on saidyoke intermediate its ends, and a toggle link pivotally connected to said slide at one'endandat the other to the inner end of said lever, said lever being movable to a locking positionin which its pivotal, connection to said link is alignedwith the lever pivot and the links pivotal connection to said slide.

. 2 A dump bucket-structLu-e as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch bolt has its keeperengaging end tapered at approximately 45 and arranged to engage-tapered surfaces onthe keeper of approXimately the same. angularity, whereby said bolt=is-under-end thrust in an outward direction when. the bucket is, loaded.

a3. vA dump bucket structure as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid latch bolt has its keeper engaging end taperedatapproximately 45 and arranged to engage tapered surfaces-on the keeper of approximately the same angularity, whereby said bolt is under end thrust in an outward direction previously mentioned. Thisarm l8 is:.pivoted near the end thereof at 43 toa bracket ,44 suitably secured to the web portiontfi of the arm It. :The

latch bolt it has its inner, endbeveled, ias'indi cated atril'd, for easier entry into and removal from the keeper 46 provided on the .topframe; l5

of the bucket, the approximately angle of; the bevels 45 and the matchin 45 anglesionthe mating faces 4! ofthe keeperidfi assuring easy when the bucket is loaded, and wherein the slot in said-slide has anend portion substantially at right angles to the bolt to receive the pin projection when the slide is in-lockingposition. i

f'A' 'positively looking latch mechanism comprising a latchbolt slidably mounted on one of two members to be interlocked, a keeper on the other or said m'ei'nbers for engagement by said bolt, said bolt havinga pin projection on the'side thereof,

. a f slide guided on the first member and movable in transverse relation to said bolt and having a slot receiving said pin projection to recipr'ocate entryof the latch bolt in the Ikeeperregardless of such slight misalignment as is apt zto .occur. This angularity. also serves to insure-.easierunlocking of the bucket, because as a res'ult' of; this r angularity the latch bolt I5 is. under'end thrust in an outward direction and will release the bucket immediately upon operation 'cf'the arm 18 by a pull on the rope i'l.- However, so long-as the arm is is raised; as shown in Fig. 5', so th'at the toggle link ii has its pivot 42 in line with the pivots 40 and 43; there is not. even theslightest danger. of .the latch bolt 16 being retracted accidentally. Furthermore, as" clearly appears in Fig. 5, the upper end'portion 48 of the slots 38 are at right angles to the longitudinal centerline of the latch bolt l6, thereby further positively i:

resisting the tendency for the bolt tomove-outwardly. It is only when the arm-l8 hasbeen pulled downwardly enough'to cause the pin '3'l to ride into the inclined middle portion 49 of the slots 38 that the outward thrustbn the bolt 16 can take effect to assist in the unlocking-of the bucket for tipping; 1

' It is believed the foregoing 'description conveys aid bolt by reciprocatory movement of said slide, a'manually osc'illatable lever pivoted on said first member intermediate its, ends, and a toggle link pivotally connected tosaidslide at one, end and at the other endto the inn'er 'end of said lever, said lever being movable tofa locking position in which its pivotal connection to said link is aligned with to said slide. I I

A latchmechanism as set. forth in claim 4 whereirr'said latch bolt has-its keeper engaging endtapered at approximately 45 and arranged to engage tapered surfaces on the keeper of approximately the sameiangularity whereby said bolt is under, endthrustin anoutward direction when the leveripivot andthe link fs pivotal connection the, interlocked-parts tend to move laterally with respect. toone another, and wherein the slot in said slide has-ran end portion substantially at right angles to the bolt' to receive the pin projection when the slide is in locked position.

'6. A latchlmechanism as set forth in claim 4,

wherein saidlatch-bolt has its keeper engaging endtapered at approximately 45 and arranged to engage" taperedsurfac'eson the keeper of approximately thesame'angularity' whereby said bolt is file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fit'zhugh Aug. 22, 1876 Foley et a1 Jan. '6, 1914 Perkins Aug. 31, 1915 Benton Feb. 16, 1926 Moravecky June 3, 1941 

